The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-02
The s"Salvation Army

A corps of nine men including
"Colonern Milton Il. Light in COM
mand, spent last week in Columbia
worshipping and working after their
way for the salvation of souls.
That nine is only one of other like
bands in the United States. The
"Army" was incorporated in 1885
under the authority of the State OF
New York, Milton X. Light being one
of the five original incorporators OF
"The Salvation Army of America. "
The head quarters of the orSaniza'
ton is in Brooklyn, State of New
York. The sole direction of the
movement is under the command OF
its "Gcneral," Thomas L. Moore.
The titles that distinguish the officers
are, General, Colonel, Major, Division
al Captain, Captain, Lieutenant
Cadet.
The uniform colors, bands of music,
professions, &C., are intended mainly,
if not solely, to attract attention.
The plan of operations by these
bands, such as the one in Columbia
last week" Salvation Crusaders"-ls
to "open" town or city by several
and leave the work to be carried Oh by
q few "soldiers" detailed for that pur-
pose to work in connection with the
recruits" that may be enlisted out OF
that particular town or city. The
design of the Crusaders is to make q
"permanent lodgment in every
place where an opening is effected,
and then so increase until the "whole
district is overcome" The opening
and manning a "fort" being thus
gained and established the "Crusaders"
90 on to repeat the style of Salvation
warfare in other places.
The Army" has its weekly paper
The War Cly-containing article, by
"GeneraW Moore and the officers and
men. These "soldiers" declare that
thew make war on nothing but sin,
and from what we have heard and
seen of them there is no reason TO
doubt the declared purpose.
The afore statements are based on
an instructive and interesting talk
with Colonel Light rs 1 rode with
him and his "Crusaders" last Satur-
day evening from Columbia to Lees
ville-where it stopped. The gentle
manly and Chistian spirited "Colo-
mel" with his staff (eight) going on to
open Augusta, Ga.
well" the enquiring reader may
ask, "what do you think of the "sal-
vation Army?"
CONTRA.
l. We fear that the word "Salva-
ton" may lose much of its sacred
ness and force with both inside and
outside people-Christians and Sill
ners-by the operations of the
army"
2. The titles uniforms, musical in
struments, military peculiarities are
repugnant to our ideas of what is pro-
per to the dispensation of the gos-
pei of "peace on earth and good will
toward men,"
CREDIT.
l. We believe the "Crusaders" arc
sincere-only desiring to do what
they declare their purpose to be.
2. We believe they are doing good
o good to many people who might
not be reached in any other way.
While we do not, from our present
standpoint, endorse their methods, we
cannot oppose them, lest we should be
found fighting against God. Our
head and heart creed is that of the
APOSTLE Paul: "Therefore whether
it were I or they, so we preach, and so
ye believed"-so the gospel is preach
cd, and so sinners are saved, be the
human agents who they may, and the
manner what it may.
8. If al army of men and women
capapied from head to foot even as an
army arrayed to destroyed men, are
warning to save men-having no car
nal weapons, but fighting "the good
fight of faith" come along we will
waive as far as possible our objections
to their methods and regalia and bid
them God-speed.